Several senators said they expected to simply work through Christmas instead of adjourning on Dec. 18, as is Reid's current plan. All senators interviewed acknowledged such a schedule will force them to forgo family plans.

Only a minority of senators said they expect to meet Reid's goal of a final Senate vote before Christmas, allowing them time to return home.

"I fully expect Christmas Day to be eating turkey with my family someplace," said Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan (N.D.). "If we come back the day after Christmas, I assume the turkey will be gone by then but my preference will be to be able to digest it for a couple of days."

"It would be silly for the Senate to forego Christmas season with our families when you know there will be so much down time in January," Wicker said. "But I'm not going to miss healthcare votes. If the majority leader thinks we'll be voting between Christmas and New Year's, I'll be here voting.

"There are soldiers sweating in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I visualize the pictures of the bare-footed soldiers with their feet bleeding at Valley Forge in Christmas of 1776. I think we can stand to be in this splendid building for Christmas if we have to."

Some senators, such as liberal Democrat Roland Burris of Illinois, said they remain optimistic that they can crowd a busy social schedule into the month, even with a healthcare vote that may or may not occur on the 18th.

"Today I'm missing a big luncheon I was supposed to be at. On Saturday there's a Christmas party, on Dec. 13th there's a black-tie event and on Dec. 18th there's a black-tie event, all in Chicago," Burris said. "And there's events on the 19th, the 20th and the 26th. All of those things were on my social calendar. But I don't think I'll miss them. I think we'll get it done. But I'm going to follow our leader."